The Week in iOS Accessories: Speakers to amp up your Apple Music playlists

This week's accessory roundup includes several new speakers for your iOS device—a couple of Bluetooth units, to be sure, but also a "natural induction" device that amplifies your iPhone's natural sound.

More for your music

This week’s roundup includes several new speakers for your iOS device—a couple of Bluetooth units, to be sure, but also a “natural induction” device that amplifies your iPhone’s natural sound.

Creative

The $100 Sound Blaster Free is another portable Bluetooth speaker—this one fits comfortably into the water bottle holder on your bike, and contains two passive radiators to create a deep bass sound.

Lumenati

The $150 Lumenati CS1 looks like an old-school film camera—the kind of thing you’d tote around in 1960s Italy while riding a Vespa and saying “Ciao” to everyone while wearing great sunglasses and a slim suit. All you have to do is pop your iPhone 6 in like older auteurs would’ve popped in a film cartridge, and you’re ready to go. Yes, this is still in the Kickstarter campaign stage, but as of this writing the developers have nearly made their $75,000 goal with 27 days to go.

Navitech

One thing about the Apple Watch: It seems to have provided a new line of work to America’s woodworkers. Who knew? The $40 Navitech Apple Watch Wood Oak Charging Dock is made of, well, oak wood and includes a slot to keep the watch’s charging cable discretely out of the way.

Nyne

The Nyne Mini is a portable Bluetooth speaker that offers up to ten hours of music playback on a single charge. It includes a carabiner to attach to your backpack—the product is explicitly aimed to teens—and includes a built-in microphone for hands-free calling.

Oaxis

The $52 Bento Close Contact Induction Speakers require “no cable, no Bluetooth, no infrared, no Wi-Fi. Just simply put your mobile phone on the speaker, the sound will be magically amplified.” Actually, there’s no magic involved, just a “near field induction pad” and a 10,000-mAh lithium battery that can keep the music going for up to six hours on a single charge.

OtterBox

The UnlimitED for iPad Air 2 is a rugged OtterBox case (and they’re the ruggedest!) built specifically for the rough-and-tumble hazards of … a K-12 classroom. It’s engineered for drop protection, and includes a screen protector and an integrated stand to display the tablet at the best typing and viewing angles. It’s tough enough for an 8-year-old.

PS Audio

The $799 PS Audio SPROUT-US Complete Hifi Home Audio Amp/DAC creates a “pure, live-like sound” in converting your iPhone’s digital MP3s to something that sounds a bit warmer and much more old-school. Simplicity is the key here, the makers say: “Rather than a display screen and endless menus, Sprout’s user interface is a direct hand-to-Sprout connection through two precision rotary switches.” The result? Direct, intuitive control of the device.